Desmond begged Winchester to interfere on his behalf. The Lord Treasurer declined to espouse his cause openly, but privately informed Sidney that if he wished justice done he must come to Court himself, and bring Desmond with him. The Queen daily uttered sharp speeches against the Earl; and Sidney alone, while his great services were fresh, could hope to mollify her. Winchester advised a retinue of not more than six men, to save expense and to avoid any appearance of ostentation. For some time the Queen insisted that Desmond should be arraigned, and, if possible, condemned in Ireland before being sent over, but Sidney persuaded her to be satisfied with having him indicted only. Fitzwilliam, who was a strong partisan of Ormonde, wrote at the same time to complain that Sir John of Desmond would not come near the Judges of Assize, and that the Geraldines continued to spoil the Butlers with impunity. The assizes in other places were rather more successful. At Maryborough the abolition of coyne and livery, imperfect as it was, was generally approved. The poor people began for the first time to feel that they had a worthy prince, and that they were subjects instead of slaves. It was quaintly said that the people in their delight 'fell to such plays and pastimes as the like was never seen in Ireland.' Lands long waste were again inhabited, rents had trebled, the markets were thronged with dealers and produce. 'Up to this time,' said George Wyse of Waterford, 'this poor country had in manner no feeling of good order, neither knew the poor fools God nor their prince, but as a "menye" of brute beasts lived under the miserable rule of their ungodly Irish lords. Now God be praised the world is otherwise framed.'[132] [Sidenote: The Queen much in debt.] Shane being out of the way, it was possible for Sidney to make some reduction in the military force, but not to do so without money. The Queen owed 41,000_l._ in Ireland; 10,000_l._ was grudgingly sent. After an interval 20,000_l._ more was got together, Cecil pledging his own credit to Sir Thomas Gresham for 7,000_l._ No sooner was this loan effected than the Queen repented, but fortunately Winchester had despatched the money, and it could not be recalled. Meanwhile fresh expenses were incurred, and at the end of August, three months after Shane's death, 31,000_l._ were yet due to Sidney and those under him. The Vice-Treasurer's account had not been balanced for years, 300,000_l._ still remaining on his books; and Sidney appears to have borrowed between 2,000_l._ and 3,000_l._ to defray the most pressing calls. Frugality in a sovereign is a virtue, but there can be no doubt that Elizabeth carried it to excess.[133] FOOTNOTES: